WINNING PUBLIC SECTOR
CONTRACTS
12th June 2015
City Hall
Peter McCarrick, Procurement Officer, Sligo Co.Council
Outline







Why work with the public sector?
How is public procurement structured?
What are the thresholds?
What opportunities are there in 2015?
Where are tenders advertised?
How are tenders received evaluated?
What supports are available for small businesses?
WHY WORK WITH THE
PUBLIC SECTOR?
Did you know?

The public service will spend around €8.5 billion
on goods & services every year
 that's

roughly €23.5m every day
This doesn’t include capital expenditure
Organising The Public Service

Multiple public bodies buying similar goods and services

Speak with ‘One Voice’

Value for Money for the tax payer

Establishment of the Office of Government Procurement

All public service procurement
•
•
Professional Services

Facilities Management and
Maintenance
Local Government

Minor Building Works & Civils

Plant Hire
Health
•
Utilities
•
ICT and Office Equipment

Medical Professional Services
•
Marketing, Print and Stationery

•
Travel and HR Services
Medical and Diagnostic Equipment
and Supplies

•
Fleet and Plant
Medical, Surgical and Pharmaceutical
Supplies
•
Managed Services


Defence


Defence and Security
Education

Veterinary and Agriculture

Laboratory, Diagnostics and
Equipment
Advantages of winning a public sector contract:
• Continuous demand
Income
stream
• Local/regional
• Prompt payment
• Business improvement
Source: Are tenders on your Radar?
HOW IS PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
STRUCTURED?
Principles guiding Public Procurement
Transparency
Mutual
Recognition
Nondiscrimination
Equal treatment
of tenderers
Proportionality
Legal Background
European Treaties
 European Directives
 National Rules & Guidelines
 Common Law
 Local Guidelines & Circulars

New Directives
Already A Government Policy
Not yet law – but policy
 Aimed at supporting SMEs

 Smaller
lots
 Consortium or joint bids
 Greater use of open tendering
 Reduced turnover requirements
 Support innovation
Thresholds


Less than €25,000:
 Quotations requested
 Subject to local guidelines
€25,000 + to the EU Thresholds (€50,000 for
Works)
 Advertise on eTenders
EU Thresholds
Advertise in OJEU
Public Body
Works
Supplies
Services
Central
Government
Non-Central
Government
€5,186,000
€134,000
€5,186,000
€207,000
Utilities
€5,186,000
€414,000
What is a Framework?

An arrangement with suppliers

Supply goods, services and works

Agreed conditions

Specified period of time – max. 4 years

Single supplier framework

Multiple supplier framework
Tendering Procedures

Open


Restricted




Two stage process
Those who meet minimum requirements invited to tender.
Minimum Number Invited to Tender (5)
Competitive Dialogue – Very Rare



Single stage procedure
Very complex requirements/specialist
Provides more flexibility in the process
Negotiated – Very Rare

RFT issued and responses form basis of negotiation
OPPORTUNITIES IN 2015
OGP Pipeline
Category
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Professional
Services
Architectural Services
(Local Government)
Financial & Economic
Consultancy Services
Solicitors (Local
Government)
Architectural, Quantity
Surveying and
Engineering Services
Legal Services (ETBs)
Solicitors
Advisory Consultancy
Services
Facilities
Management
Uniforms
Cleaning Products &
Equipment
Cleaning Products &
Services
Advisory Consultancy
Services
Cleaning Products
Laundry Services
Catering
Waste
Waste
Security Services
Pest Control
Uniforms
Standard PPE
Document Management
Lift Maintenance
Footwear
Fire Alarm Services
Boiler Maintenance
OGP Pipeline Continued
Category
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Utilities
Electricity
Electricity Mini
Competition
Energy Advisory
Contract
Electricity Mini
Competition
Gas Mini Competition
Electricity Mini
Competition
Electricity Mini
Competition
Gas Mini Competition
Gas Mini Competition
Natural Gas
Gas Mini Competition
Fuels Advisor
ICT
ICT Research Advisory
Application Licencing
Solutions
CRM
Enterprise Virtualisation
Desktop Software
Mailroom Equipment
Security monitoring and
analysis software
ERP Solutions
Enterprise Backup
Telecoms (Lease Line)
Mobile Services
Local Area networks
Wide Area Network
VOIP Network
Equipment
Computer Peripherals
PCs, Notebooks,
Tablets, Thin Clients
ICT Professional
Services
OGP Pipeline Continued
Category
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Marketing, Print
& Stationery
Polling Information
Cards
Beef Certificates
Promotional Events
Framework
Envelope Contract
Print Shared Services
General Print
Framework
Advertising Media
Buying Framework
Travel, Transport
& HR Services
Taxis (Dublin)
Travel Insurance
Towing Services Garda
Secure Print
Frameworks
Advertising Creative
Media Frameworks
Towing Services
Courier / Pouched Mail
Employee Assistance
Services
Cash in Transit
FOI Training
Car Hire
Health & Safety
Training
Staff Learning &
Development
Selected Bus Services
New Fleet Framework
Fleet & Plant
Managed
Services
Shuttle Bus HSE Galway
Translation &
Interpretation Services
Plant Framework
Business Support
Services
Local Government Pipeline
Q1
Q2
Q3
Fuels (LA)
Energy Retrofit (LA)
Asbestos (LA)
Deep Energy Retrofit (LA)
Asbestos (OPW)
Asbestos (Dept. of Education)
Voids (LA)
Q4
Bitumen 2016 (LA)
Plant Hire 2016 (LA)
Building Works (HSE Non Acute)
Building Works (HSE - Acute)
Plumbing Services (LA)
Temporary Accommodation (LA)
Electricial Services (LA)
Building Refurbishment (OPW)
Mechanical Services (HSE - Acute)
Asbestos (HSE)
Pavement Management Survey (LA)
Mechanical Services (HSE - Non Acute)
Temporary Accomodation
(Dept. of Education)
Electrical Services (HSE - Acute)
Electrical Services (HSE -Non Acute)
WHERE ARE TENDERS
ADVERTISED?
Where are tenders advertised?

www.etenders.gov.ie
Where are tenders advertised?

www.laquotes.ie
THE PROCESS – SHOULD
YOU TENDER?
Tips for Responding to Tenders
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Read the request for tender carefully
Decide if the tender is suitable for your company
Answer all the questions
Pay attention to the weightings attached to the
selection & award criteria
Include all the required documentation
Submit your application by the closing date
Evaluation Process
Selection
Compliance
Award
Evaluation Process - Compliance
Tenders are checked to ensure they have complied
with the instructions given in the ITT
 Missing documents, blank documents, unsigned
documents etc.
 Clarifications

Evaluation Process - Selection

The selection criteria permitted are:






Economic and financial standing
Professional and technical knowledge or ability
Quality assurance standards
Environmental management standards
Objective non-discriminatory short-listing criteria
Only tenderers qualified in accordance with
selection criteria will proceed to be evaluated
under award criteria
Evaluation Process - Award
Lowest Price or MEAT
 MEAT - Most Economically Advantageous Tender







Price
Quality
Technical merit
Environmental characteristic
Service & technical assistance
Delivery terms
Weighting criteria for MEAT must be clear
 Abnormally low tenders

What’s a Standstill Period


The standstill notice must give sufficient information to
enable an unsuccessful bidder to decide whether there are
grounds for seeking a review
Standstill Period (OJEU contracts)




14 calendar days – standstill notice sent by fax or email
16 calendar days – standstill notice sent by other means
Standstill period commences day following publication of a
valid standstill notice to unsuccessful Tenderers
During the Standstill Period



Contracts Cannot be Concluded
The Contracting Authority Cannot Negotiate Contract Terms
The Contracting Authority Cannot Allow Work to Commence
Unsuccessful – Feedback is Available

Available on request
 Reasons
for elimination
 The name of the successful tenderer


Not entitled to details of others tenders
(including prices)
Notices of Contract Awards
WHAT SUPPORTS ARE
AVAILABLE TO SMALL
BUSINESS?
Support

Additional support and training available:
 Local
Enterprise Office
 Enterprise
Ireland
 Intertrade
Ireland
Tender Advisory Service

Operational from 1st February, 2015

Objective – Support SMEs
 Outlet
to raise concerns in relation to a live tender
process

Contact www.procurement.ie or
tenderadvisoryservice@ogp.ie
BEST OF LUCK!